Texas may soon be home to nation's largest eSports arena

KNPR

They say that everything is bigger in Texas. Pretty soon, that saying could apply to gaming as well as the City of Arlington looks to build what would be the largest eSports arena in the USA.

The proposed state-of-the-art esports stadium will boast 100,000 square feet and will be designed to draw competitive players and gaming fans from around the globe. The plan is for it to open its doors this Autumn in Arlington’s Entertainment District.

“Being on the forefront of new ideas and setting trends is in our DNA and part of who we are as The American Dream City,” said Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams “Esports Stadium Arlington will further cement our city’s status as a national and international tourist destination. Players and fans will come here for the tournaments and they’ll stay even longer to experience everything Arlington has to offer.”

The city is collaborating with Esports Venues, LLC, and award-winning sports and entertainment architecture firm Populous and plans to invest $10 million into the Arlington Convention Center to transform it into the eSports stadium.

“This esports stadium will transform the Arlington Convention Center and position the city as the epicenter for esports in the heart of North America,” said Brian Mirakian, senior principal at Populous. “Esports fans willencounter a live experience unlike any other, by way of space for up to 1,000 spectators, VIP amenities and year-round event potential.”

The stadium will be managed by NGAGE Esports, one of the nation’s leaders in the field of entertainment marketing. NGAGE has a proven track record of working with some of the world’s biggest companies to combine social media, design, asset building, brand partnerships and activations to optimize fan engagement.

The City’s planned stadium, which displays the adaptive re-use potential of esports, would feature a major competition event space, gaming, retail and social spaces, VIP hospitality, a broadcast studio, and team training areas.

“I know the gaming community across the globe is going to fall in love with this stadium and with Arlington,” Mayor Williams said. “We’re ready for the biggest tournaments in the esports industry to call Arlington home.”